The River Radius Podcast

Peter Fox began rowing boats in 1980 as a rookie commercial guide in California. This was his first time running rivers and it was the beginning of a global guiding career. In his years as a guide, he would row boats in Chile to include the second run ever down the Futaleufú River which was also the first run on that river in a raft. During his guide career, outfitters were transitioning from bucket boats, a boat with a sealed floor, to self bailing boats, a transition that necessitated rigging and rowing style changes. The guide life took Peter to four continents and after six years he moved on. He would stay with river running on his own, and also as a rowing instructor for non-guides looking to learn the craft of rowing. Over the past few years, Peter has written a book collecting stories from his global guide career. We talk about his guide career, boats, rowing styles, and high-water.  GUESTPeter Fox websiteBook on NRS WebsiteInstagramFacebookArticle about Peter FoxROWING SCHOOLNorthwest Rafting Company (select "River Training")  SPONSORSVALLEY AUTO GROUPLanding page at River RadiusLanding page at Valley Auto GroupAuto purchase includes $500 donation to river groupVehicle can be shipped to you in 48 statesOUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVEGrasstops CollectiveInstagramFacebookBlueskyXAMERICA OUTDOORSAnnual ConferenceWebsiteInstagramFacebook  THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

After leaving a blooming career in the world of credit unions, Kayeloni Scott is deeply involved in the work to free the dammed waters of her home river, The Snake River. Kayeloni was raised in Idaho and comes from river people and she says in this episode that a river for her is "home". Kayeloni today is the Executive Director of the Columbia Snake River Campaign and has developed the RUN Conference, Rise Up Northwest in Unity, which will have its 4th annual event this October. And Kayeloni, along with other indigenous women, is presenting in Se' Si' Le, The Return of the Matriarchy, on a tour this fall. Kayeloni talks through catching her first fish with her Dad, her valuable relationship with her Grandma, floating down the Klamath River to the ocean with her Mom and Paddle Tribal Waters, and how matriarchy weaves through all things.   Columbia Snake River Campaign Instagram @columbiasnakeriverFacebook "Ever Flowing" - a short film by Columbia Snake River CampaignNez Perce TribeSe' Si' Le, Seven Sisters, Return of the MatriarchyArticle at Idaho Rivers UnitedSPONSORSVALLEY AUTO GROUPLanding page at River RadiusLanding page at Valley Auto GroupAuto purchase includes $500 donation to river groupVehicle can be shipped to you in 48 statesOUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVEGrasstops CollectiveInstagramFacebookBlueskyX   THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Riverhorse Nakadate is the author of a new book, "Water Lines: A Life on Marshes, Rivers, Seas, and in the Rain." He is deeply connected to fish and fishing, even as he casts his rod less and less. He has led a life of travel in pursuit of fishing and surfing that has taken him to waters in rivers, lakes, marshes and oceans around the world. It also seems he travels in pursuit of opportunities to meet people through random exchanges involving food and conversation. His book is a collection of short stories from his life exploring wild places, airports, and roadside food stands. These stories of fish and water life get mixed with his passion for music, which has led him to editing a guitar magazine, playing music and befriending some of the most legendary musicians. And this is all in parallel with his day job as a public school teacher.  Thumbnail Image Tony Czech @tczechGUESTSRiverhorse NakadateAll his films are on his website aboveBook:  WaterlinesRESOURCESFilm: "Low and Clear" SPONSORSVALLEY AUTO GROUPLanding page at River RadiusLanding page at Valley Auto GroupAuto purchase includes $500 donation to river groupVehicle can be shipped to you in 48 statesOUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVEGrasstops CollectiveInstagramFacebookBlueskyX   THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

For 25 years, a rule at the United States Forest Service has been in place that does not allow new roads to be built. These roadless areas inside our National Forests total about 59 million acres, and they have remained without roads, without human vehicle traffic, without heavy equipment working to extract natural resources. Inherently, this has protected rivers and their headwaters, their entire basins, their narrow riparian canyons, and all the critters in the water and on the land. In August of this year, 2026, the current US Presidential administration announced in the Federal Register their intent to rescind this rule. This episode hosts Chris Wood who was working directly on the Roadless Rule when it was initiated in 1999 and completed in 2001. Today Chris Wood is the President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. He talks with the River Radius about why the rule was created, the culture of trees and forests and roads that supported this rule 25 years ago, and also how we can all engage with public comments until September 21 on this topic.  GUESTSChris Wood, CEO & President at Trout Unlimited Trout Unlimited RESOURCESOriginal Roadless RuleFederal RegisterAugust 20, 2026Roadless Announcement Comment at United States Forest ServiceComment at TUComment at American WhitewaterComment at American RiversComment at Greater Yellowstone Coaltion Chris Wood from Trout Unlimited in the Wired to Hunt Podcast, with great and longer history of timber sales in USApple PodcastsSpotifySPONSORSVALLEY AUTO GROUPLanding page at River RadiusLanding page at Valley Auto GroupAuto purchase includes $500 donation to river groupVehicle can be shipped to you in 48 statesOUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVEGrasstops CollectiveInstagramFacebookBlueskyX  THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Sometime in the 1980s, after reading a hand written note telling him to come up for a river trip, Greg McFadden turned north on a rural highway in Idaho. He had no idea about river running and river culture, nor did he know, that note and river would lead him to become a lifelong river guide and eventually purchase the river outfitter hosting that very first river trip. Today Greg leads a group of 4 full time staff and 38 guides as they take their guests down guided river trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Main Salmon Rivers in Idaho, sometimes all in one long trip. Last year they only hired one new guide, and their crew spans 5 of the named generations. Greg also travels to Washington DC advocating for rivers and river guides, he is a painter with his own downtown gallery, even if it is the size of a van, and he also guides a couple of river trips for a Grand Canyon river outfitter because it feels good and keeps him connected.    Greg McFadden Canyons River Company Canyons Booking (Food & Wine Trip) IG @canyons_river_company FB @canyons BIPOC Outdoor Collective Pandion Institute Les Bechdel Susan Bechdel Greg's Art Gallery America Outdoors Fun Luvin' Fleecewear Blue Moon Yurts   River Radius Episode with Canyons FounderLes Bechdel, Apple PodcastsLes Bechdel, Spotify   SPONSORSPoudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation   THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Les Bechdel is a river runner, an outfitter, an author of the first comprehensive book on modern river rescue techniques, a kayaker, a husband, a catarafter, a father, a river ranger, a grandfather, an instructor, and a soldier. In the 1980s, river rescue became a more organized and developed concept and practice, and Les Bechdel was at the center of that movement. In 1985, the first edition of the book "RIVER RESCUE" was published with Les and Slim Ray as the authors. The book is now in its 4th edition. Les was selling kayaks during the transition from fiberglass to plastic. Eventually, he moved to Idaho from North Carolina with his family and started a river outfitting company in the Salmon River system that is still thriving today. Beyond all of that, Les is a kind and open man who tells stories of a life shaped by rivers and family. AW Bio Bio article   River Rescue: A Manual for Whitewater Safety, 4th EditionBy Les Bechdel & Slim Ray Les Bechdel "Guidefather" 1996, newspaper article Charlie Walbridge Canyons River Company Southern Appalachian Whitewater Hall of Fame Bio Bio accident report from American Whitewater, 1981 Payson Kennedy, episode on The River Radius, Apple Podcasts Payson Kennedy, episode on The River Radius, Spotify   SPONSORSPoudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation     THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Heather Hansman publishes her 3rd book today, "Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America's Love for the Wild." Heather joins the River Radius as a returning guest to talk about the subjects of her book: Georgie White, Anne LaBastille and Dolores LaChapelle. We also get into her travels to learn about these three people, how going through the complete collection of one person helped clarify details, how writing a book is a multi-year commitment, her own feelings about the book and the nervous tension she rides as her book publication date arrives. Heather is a longtime river runner and river guide, and is the author of the recent article exposing many details about the current river permitting system. Her writing is funny and serious and deep, and our conversation lets her share with us her journey of writing this excellent book about rivers, people, boats, wild places, ecological theories, and the bias that gets in the way of understanding our natural systems.    Heather Hansman website "Fierce Country" Book Tour @hhansman "Wreck Dot Gov" (article about the river permit system) Previous River Radius Episode with Heather Hansman Apple Podcasts Previous River Radius Episode with Heather Hansman Spotify   SPONSORSPoudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation     THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Devon Barker-Hicks is an Idaho born and raised river runner, growing up in the Barker family of river outfitters. She is a lifelong public school teacher, a global kayak competitor, and a dedicated advocate and protector of the waters and rivers of Idaho. Her program "Dare to Kayak," brings kayaking to the public schools of Idaho, and a film about that same program premiers on July 22nd in Riggins, ID. She grew up running rivers with her family, working as a guide at the family outfitter company from childhood through her college summers. Today she teaches kayaking through the "Dare to Kayak" program and at her brother's outfitting company. She is considered by her Idaho river peers to be a leader in the knowledge of the rivers of Idaho, and a leader in caring for the rivers and the river runners, and she serves on the Board of Directors of Idaho Rivers United. In addition to all of this, we also talk through her 2020 two-month tour of the entire watershed of the Owyhee-Bruneau Canyonlands.    GUESTDevon Barker-Hicks Dare to Kayak Writing: "The Confluence of Passions on the Canals of Amsterdam" Writing: "The Owyhee Bruneau Canyonlands All Forks Sabbatical" South Fork Salmon, Barker video Barker River Expeditions Southfork Salmon & Idaho Rivers United video BOD @ Idaho Rivers United Film Premiere July 22, 2026 5pm MT  Potluck with films to follow  Little River Bait & Tackle 7482 US-95, Riggins, ID 83549 Riggins, IDFacebook   SPONSORSPoudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation   THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Each year American Rivers, a national river focused advocacy organization publishes a list of 10 rivers that are beautiful rivers and rivers that want our engagement. These are the rivers of the 2026 Most Endangered Rivers List. American Rivers first published the Most Endangered Rivers List in 1984, and now 41 years later, they still bring to our attention ten rivers of elevated importance. This year's rivers run between 8 and 400 miles in length. My guest again this year is Chantel Dominguez from American Rivers. Chantel brings infectious optimism to the power of highlighting these rivers.    GUESTChantel Dominguez American Rivers|   MER LIST 2026America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2026 Video of AR's MER List 2026 on YouTube Support American Rivers   SPONSORSPoudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation     THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

What happens when you invite the best river kayaking athletes from around the world to meet up for a 3-day race on the wild and rowdy Class 5 North Fork of the Payette River under the big sun and blue sky of Idaho? You get the North Fork Championship of 2026. After a multi-year hiatus, one of the favorite races among paddlers and fans is back, now with a solid foundation and strategic stability to return year after year. We talk with the founder of the race, James Byrd, and a board member of the newly established board of directors, Aaron Pruzan. These guests are deeply passionate about this race, paddling, this river, and bringing conservation of rivers to the culture of this wild race, all in a way that keeps stoke on high.  THUMBNAIL PICPhotographer: John WebsterPaddler: Jen Chrimes GUESTSJames Byrd Aaron PruzanRendevous River Sports / Jackson Hole Kayak School North Fork Championship   FILMSWild Water, Teaser, 2010 film Several North Fork Championship short films on Vimeo   SPONSORSPoudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree